Eni Aluko's punditry career thrown into doubt as ITV backs Arsenal legend Ian Wright in war of words over women's football coverage

The statement made by the broadcaster is the latest instalment in an ongoing saga around the coverage of the women's game. The story began when Aluko said Wright "should be aware of" the amount of work he does in women's football and that he should be be mindful that "women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women's game". Aluko issued an apology for her comments last Friday, but Wright said he could not accept it.

The decision to back Wright could signal the end of Aluko's relationship with the broadcaster. ITV has joint-live rights with the BBC to broadcast the Lionesses' defence of the European Championship this summer. Wright has not been officially named as a pundit for the tournament, but has been a key part of ITV's international football coverage for the better past of two decades.

A spokesperson for ITV told The Guardian: "Ian’s standing in the sport is beyond question. As one of the UK’s most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women’s football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions."

Who knows? This whole back-and-forth has come off the back of her legal battle with Joey Barton, and the ex-Chelsea striker would have hoped to put that ordeal behind her and moved on her broadcast career in the summer. That now looks increasingly unlikely.